The Andalusia High School cheer team is taking on its first game-week of the year, as football kicks off against Shades Valley at home on Friday night.

Cheer coach Erin Chavers said, “It’s our goal to promote school spirit and to get the school involved in all of these activities.”

Chavers is an Andalusia High School graduate and former cheerleader who appreciates the chance to still be involved.

“It’s nice to be able to give back to something I was once a part of,” said Chavers. “That is special to me.”

Cheerleaders Annie Tomberlin and Anna Brady said that the team has been really busy preparing for the upcoming pep rally and the game on Friday night.

“We have been working on our cheers and band dances,” Tomberlin said. “Besides our routines, we create the signs and plan all of the activities throughout the week. It’s all fun, though.”

Chavers said that the team has built about eight signs for the pep rally and game, including the sign that the football team will run through when it makes its way onto the field.

The cheerleaders have a specific routine planned for the pep rally.

“We have a routine that we learned at cheer camp,” Brady said. “There are different kinds of stunts in it that we think people will enjoy.”

There is a lot of work that goes into being a cheerleader, and a lot of it is behind-the-scenes work that no one sees.

After school every day the team meets up for practice. “We stretch and warm-up, practice our stunts and cheer routines, and on Monday’s we make the signs,” Tomberlin said.

The work hasn’t gone unnoticed by their coach, though.

“The girls have been working really hard and I’m pleased with the work they’ve done,” Chavers said.